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THE Far South has often come up with personalities who were, or are, rain or shine, a super-fit breed of recreational or competitive walkers.

In '50s and '60s there was Bill Hennessy, now aged 101 and living at Carlisle Lodge. He was a former WP flank forward who came to the handling game from soccer.

He has never owned a motor vehicle in spite of having been placed in charge of regimental transport in the Western Desert in WW2.

Everyday mid-week he would walk from Fish Hoek to Glencairn and either walk or lift back.

On Saturdays he would walk from Fish Hoek to the Muizenberg Hotel to meet his gentlemen friends of the turf.

Hennessy was followed by Sybil Bayles. Bayles would walk everyday from her home in St James along the main road to the Westlake turnoff and back. Early morning commuting motorists were so intrigued by this lady that they contacted the Cape Times to find out who she was. She too had her day of fame in print.

Bayles came to St James from Johannesburg and played Grand Challenge tennis for Fish Hoek. She suffered from skin cancer and wore gloves at sport or while walking, which became a personal characteristic.

Possibly the most famous of them all was Mavis Hutchison, better known as the "Galloping Granny".

In her early 60s and with a large family, she was a competitive walker, who in the mid '80s was frequently featured on the sports pages of the metropolitan press. Hutchison owned one the earliest gyms in Fish Hoek near the Shoprite building. She left Fish Hoek to move to Durban. I do not know if she is still alive.

Local motorists today must surely at some stage have noticed "The Two Erics". Eric Barker and Eric Bolt can be seen walking from Clovelly over Boyes Drive to the Westlake turnoff and back along the Main Road into Muizenberg.

After a pit stop for delicious refreshment, they return to Clovelly along the sea-front paths.

Barker in his youth was a fine sportsman. Rugby, soccer and cricket were his interests and his no-frills punchy golf style got him down to nine handicap at the Clovelly Country Club.

Bolt's excellence at tennis has already been noted on these pages. He was also a highly skilful soccer player.

They are sometimes joined by Mike Kihn. Kihn's trade-wind route, though (and the description is used with intent), is usually along the Fish Hoek Beach Road en route to Simon's Town.

Kihn started his walking after receiving medical advice to remedy a circulatory condition. His usual gear is long socks and ordinary office shoes.

If he appears vacant, he deserves to. He is studying for a law qualification through Unisa purely as a hobby. By their walks thou shalt know them.

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